Release Detail

April 26, 2001 - New Yorkers Balk At Bush Tax Cut,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
2-1 Feel It Will Help The Rich

By a 47 - 42 percent margin, New York State voters oppose President Bush's plan for a
$1.6 trillion tax cut, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Of those
opposed to President Bush's proposal, 72 percent favor a smaller tax cut.

The Bush tax cut will help rich people most, 64 percent of New York voters tell
the independent Quinnipiac University poll, while 24 percent say it will help the middle
class most and 2 percent say it will help poor people most.

The tax cut should help the middle class most, 55 percent of voters say, while 34
percent say it should help the poor most and 1 percent say it should help the rich most.

"When we asked New Jersey voters about President Bush's tax cut proposal, 52
percent said, `Show me the money.' In New York, only 42 percent support the tax
cut," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Who would benefit from tax cuts? Rich people, New Yorkers think.

"Who should benefit from tax cuts? The middle class and poor people, New
Yorkers say, except for that 1 percent of our polling sample who are rich."

If there is a tax cut, 44 percent of New Yorkers say they will save the money
they receive, while 28 percent say they will use the extra money to pay off debt and 20
percent say they will spend it.

By a 58 - 28 percent margin, New York voters support a Senate proposal to give
all taxpayers a $300 rebate check this year.

New Yorkers approve 50 - 40 percent of the job Bush is doing as President.